Rear-axle housing.



Y J. G. SHVPL/XR. REAR AXLE HOUSWG. APPUCATION FILED Nov. 19. e913'.

Patent@ Feb. mm.

3 SHEETS-SHEEI Ww v WMZ/V flume/13s SWIPELAAR.

REAR AXLE HOUSlNG. APPLxcATm'H FMD raw. 1s, ma.

teme Feb. 25, MN.

3 SHEETS-SHEEI 3.

v To all whom t may concern.

4 plates Vis UNITED sTATEs PATENT oFFioE.

JACOB G. SIMPELAAB, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, 'ASSIGNOIQ BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, THE 'S'IUDEBAKER CORPORATION, 0F DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPO RATION.

- REARf-.AXLE HOUSING.

Patented Feb. 25, 1919.

Application led November 179, 1913., Serial No. 801,798.

Be it known that l", JACOB G. SIMrELAAR, a citizen of the United States, residing at Milwaukee, countyof Mi1waukee,'and State of Wisconsin, have invented new and useful Improvements in Rear-Axle Housings, of whichthe following is a specification.

.My invention relates to improvements 1n rear axle housings. t

The object of my invention is to provide a form of integrally trussed rear axle housing which may be made from sheet metal 1n a seriesofvsimple and inexpensive cutting, pressingy and folding operations, whereby the use of auxiliary truss rods or stays may be dispensed with and a superior structure of great strength and rigidity, and at' the Same time 'havlng large road clearance, may "be produced, and whereby brazing and riveting may be largely dispensed with. The invention, in its broad aspect, em-

' bodies two complementary plates secured togetherto form a housing, each of which dished or depressed at substam tially its central portion, whereby a cham ber is formed for housing differential mechanism` and each 'of which plates is Channeled longitudinally t l n chambers extending laterally from the dlfferential chamber and adapted to house the 4 axle shafts associated with said differential.

. Relatively deep Webs are formed along those ting relation,

portions of the plates adjacent the axle shaft chambers to shape the housing'i'nto the form of a' ltruss, and it is to these relatively"`deep webs that the present invention is particularly directed. The inventiona rovides said relatively deep webs in face-a utand` the two housing sections secured together along the webs, preferably by one plate over the edge or plates are .of said of' the other plate'. 0 y I am 'aware thatautomoblle axle houslngs have been heretofore proposed in which two pressed metal halves were riveted or welded together in .planes both horizontal and ver tical, but I am not aware that any -axle housin'g ha's'heretofore been conceived wherein whichabody vo two'pressed metal halves were secured together by means of a joint made in substantially a vertical plane and so formed that adjacent flanges reduced integral trusses in i) metal-of greater breadth form elongatedl V,sile truss' element, and, .when the beaded-over edge,

than the web formed by the adjacent flanges was placed at the extremity of the web, so as effectively to prevent-side buckling of the upper web under compression, and so as to secure greater strength for 'the volume and weight of the metal used than if the web afforded by the flanges Were not, at its extremity, reinforced in the manner described. Neither am I aware that housings have been heretofore conceived wherein portions of the housing were bent into a substantial rod to withstand the stress tending to produce linear fracture along the lower side of the housing and to prevent the presentation of a thin edge of metal to the tearing tendancies of the stresses resulting from the ass of the housing. Moreover, I am not aware that axle housings have eted, 'beaded orwelded together, comprising the relatively deep -webs hereinbefore specified so positioned that the adjacent faces were in abutting contact or engagement throughout substantially their entire extent. This construction is such as to be extremely strong and withstands great strainswithout. buckling. i

In the preferred embodiment of m invention, hereinafter described in detail; the abutting' flanges at the lower side of the housing are conformed and' disposed in the same mann'er as are the upper flanges; how ever, in order that satisfactory results may be obtained, it is necessary that only the upper fianges be conformed to afford a relatively deep web rovided at its edge with a body of vmetal tiiat is o'f greater cross section than the thickness of two flan es, or, in other words, a truss of substantially I- beam construction. The,lower web is a tenprovided with the' bead thus formed provides a' substantially rod-like lconstruction which insures thev edges of the web against linear fracture. With this explana tion, I shall, for the purpose of making clear the functions of the several flanges, and Webs which they form, refer to the structure afforded by the upper beaded flanges as a truss of substantially I-beam construction, ,and the structure afforded by th lower beaded flanges as a substantial ro Features of the invention, other than those houslng embodying my invention'.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same.

Fig. 3 is a plan view, on a small scale, of one of the blanks from which the housing is formed, with dotted lines indicating the dimensions of the 'counterpart blank.-

Fi 4 and 5 are sectional views ofthe respective blanks drawn on line 1--1 of Fig.

3, but showing the blanks as they appeal'4 after the first compressing operation has shaped the yblanks. into two concavely hollowed members.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view on the same plane, showing the larger member with its marginal portion artially folded preparatorv to the assemb ing operation.

ig. 7 is a view of the inner faceof the larger member as it appears ypreparatory to j the operation of folding in the margins about the central aperture Figs. S, 9, 10, 11 and 12 are sectional views showing the members assembled and.

margins wholly folded, said views being drawn on lines 2-2, 3-T3, /1-1, and 6-6, respectively, of Figs. 1 and 7.

Fig. 13 is a rear viewl of a housing'embodying a modified form of my invention.

Fig. 14 is a sectional view drawn on line 7-7 of Fig. 13t

Fig. 15 is a lview in cross-section of a further modification, and y Fig. 16 isa detail sectional view of f slightly modified term/of tlM r" tr.A io shown in Fig. 14.

Like,Y parts are identified by the same reference" characters throughout the. several views. f

It will. be understood that a rear axle housing of the type herein referred tc is provided with a central cavity for the differential. gears, and has openings toI the front and rear, the front apertureil'eceiving the transmission shaftl and the rear one affording accessto the gearing. These-'apertures are normally closed, an ordinary cap (not shown) being used at the rear and the transmission shaft casing (also not shown) being secured to the housing `wall at the front.

ln forming the housin shown 'in Fig. l, l first cut a setot blan (s A and B from sheet metal. Thesey blanks` are similar in contour, being widest in the central portion and tapering along curved lines toward the respective ends, the end portions having straight and substantially parallel margins. Each blank is cut out centrally to form a central yaperturl C', preferabl having *a scalloped margi toi facilitate tlie inwardl folding :operation hereinafter describe i The blank A is wider than theblank B, the difference in width being suHicient to allow 'the side margins of the blank A to fold die to form central cup-shaped cavities D D (Fig. 11), which are extended inthe form p ve `de i scribed, they are each pressed in a suitable oftapering depressions E E (Figs. 4 and 5) toward the respective ends of the blanks,

these depressions a semi-cylindrica form at the respective ends, as will ap ear from a comparison of Figs. 8, 9, 10 'and Fi and 2. The pressin operation above re erred to provides two hal members having projecting margins in the form of Han es, a` and b,resfpectively, the fianges a ofthe lank progressively approaching 11, and as also appears in orinemberAbeing wider than the flanges b 4of the blank B, and the members A and B being otherwise preferably of substantially equal size. y

It will be observed in Fig. 6, which-shows the members Aand B assembled, that the outer portions lof the flanges a of the member A areipartiully folded at a', parte a of these iianges extending at right angles to the other parts. The inner partsfof these flanges are of suiicient dimensions to reive the flanges b of the member B when parts are assembled as shown in Fig. 6. .nen the parts are thus assembled, with tlanges af and a in face-abutting contact, they are connected to ether at points intermediate the ends and central portions by rivets F, after which the upturned parts a of the Han s a are completely folded over upon the ges of the flanges b, as clearly shown in Figs. 8 to 12, inclusive. yDuring this inal pressing operation, the members are rgidl ,held together by pressure ap: plied 1n t e vicinity of the rivets F, and sufficient pressure is exerted upon the folded portions of the flanges a to secure a rigid union of the) parts, thus forming the comlongitudinal central plane and constitutesa i truss, of which the folds or l'i'bs comprise i thc upper and lowerniembers connected together` by the side` walls of the `housing the body. These tubes H are adapted to receive the axle shafts, which extend them to the differential caring located in the central cavity or di erential chamber. These, however, are not essential', as the integral tubular portions of the housing may be extended to any desired length.

Preparatory to assembling the members A and B as above described, the margins the central apertures C may be folded -inwardly as shown in Fig. 2, the folding taking place along the dotted circular line J appearing in F ig. 7. The scalloped edges of these margins permit the nebessary expansion at the edges during this folding operation. This operation may take`\ place either prior to the artial folding of the flange a,

.as indicated 1n Fig. 6, or subsequent thereto.

The partial folding of said flange a may also r"take place simultaneously with the Eressing operation by which the cavities D and E E are formed. l, The object of folding'the margins of the apertures Cas above described is to strengthen the memv and they` therefore,

- yso A friveting, a1thou rh the rivets F .65

bers and provide additional body at the points where ythe cap/,and transmission shaft casingaret/o be applied.

It will/be observed that, with the exception of the tubular' end portions H, the houslng is entirely formed by a Series of stamp ing, folding-andI pressing operations whereby the blanks are cut from sheet metal and, after being shaped, are connected with each other by folded interlocking truss members in a central vertical plane. The folded and lapped joints add materially to the strength of the structure, since they form substantial, integral truss rods extending along the outer edges of the webs of the housing at the bottom and substantially I-beam integral compression trusses extending along the outer surfaces of the housing at the top. These ribs converge toward the respective ends, not only serve as integral truss rods, but securely lock the respective members together against both longitudinal and lateral movement. By employing dies in connection with suitable folding and pressing machinery, lutely rigid connection can be secured without brazing or welding, and even without are preferin holding ably inserted.A eidrivets F aid throughan obsothe parte together,

fianges in face-abutting contact, after the With the relatively deep housing is completed, and also aid matedally in holding members A and B together during the final folding operation performed upon the flanges a, whereby the edges same size, and the flanges o may be folded preparatory to the assembling operation. In Figs. 13 and 14, the margins of the apertures 'C C are not shown as folded, but an independently formed anto the inner face of the aperture margin and point-welded thereto to (preferably threaded in each annulus K and margin C-C with the heads within the housing) are adapted to and rear walls, respectively.

In Fig. 15 I have shown, in cross-section, a Webbed housing'formed integrally from a single blank M, which, if desired, may be folded at m to form a cylindrical rib on one side, and which has interlocking flanges on the other side, one ange n being preferably Wider than the other iange -n and also folded over the latter in the form of a cylindrical rib positioned along the edge o f the intermediate, relatively deep web.

In Fig. 416, flanges a a and b b are shown in interlocking relation and each folded in the form of .a cylindrical rib. The

7o I thereof are lapped over the edges of flanges is and 14, the flanges b b tf1] B B correspond to the flanges bbut are folded to v member A A is Fig. 14. In this. form of construction, the blanks may be' of.

nulus K (preferably a split ring) is applied .l n

facilitate handling ,-i. Y and partlally secure the parts. Bolts L not only hold the f parts together but -to also connect the cap and transmission shaft housings to the front f features shown in Figs. 13 to 16, inclusive,

may -be used interchangeably in any houscorrespondingly reduced without impairing the strength and. durability of the housing.

Owing to the fact that rear axle housings are not only required to protect the differential gearin and driving axles of motor drivenv vehic es, but are also required to' support the Weight of the vehicle body from the wheels, it is exceedingly important that a housing formed of sheet metal shall be so reinforced and strengthened as to enable iro and of any desired 1u it to withstand the strains to which such housings are lsubjected and to carry the required load. By having the interlocking seams `reveisely arched in the `central portions` and connected witlreach other integrally-bythe sheet metal webs, `.vhich const-itute the, walls of the housing, it is possible tonprovide a vstructure of far greater strength in proportion to the weight than any of the axle housings heretofore constructed.` I believe that I am the first to conceive of the fact that a sheet metal in". terlmzking seam, when arched and arranged as above described, may be utilized to not only unite the sections of the, liousing,'but,

alsoltoforniy a truss for the housing, which greatly adds'to the strength thereof, More over,'I am the-first to provide a housing with the relatively deep webs specified, the webs being formed by relatively deep fianges which are positioned in direct faceabuttng contact throughout substantially their entire extent, and the edges of which are secured `together by beading, or otherwise. 'f

bodiments of the invention described, the

vehicle axle of .this invention embodies two1 complementary plates which are `so shaped as to form central, dislied portions to house a differential, and laterally extending, vsubstantially semi-cylindrical portions to' house a when driving shaft nach of eine pines is provided at both of its edges with relatively deep flanges tapering toward the center and ends `of the plates, so that, when while intermediate said passages and the edges lof ysaid i't'itle will be positioned rela# tively d'ep webs, ifffthe edges of thev plates are securedl together by beadingl one late over-'the edge ofthe other, as'describe the webs will be positioned snidrelatively dee headed-over' portion and intermediate .the

the substantially cylindrical portions of the. structure. Thus, theinvention may be saidy to embody,`jin its broadnspech two complementary plates, secured .together to form y a casing, each Vof whichl plates is dishedor depressedfatfsubstantially-itsce'ntral portion wherebyiachainber'is forme/dior housplates is chaniieledlongitudinally to iforin-l elongatednh bers extendingy lfrom the' diferential"` eha` to ,house the-axle shafts. The mlativelygdoeplwebs are formed alongI those }io|tiolis',of.tlie, plates ladjiwent `the It -will thus appear that, in allof the ein- 'through which the` wheel..` driving shafts' extend,

axle shaft chambers to shape' the axle into the forni ofn truss.

A salient feature of the invention resides in the fact that the web portions of the structure are in `face-alnitting relation, i. e., are iu tace-abutting Contact, so that the inner faces of the webs of one plate acti. fl'v contact with the inner faces of the corresponding webs of the other plate. By this construction. a Very strong and rigi( axle results.

While it is desired to bead over the edges oi the plates, as described, it will be apparenty that a` very strong structure would re* sult through the employment of the webs even tlrougli the edges of the plates were rivetedfl;r ifl y welded together, rather than beaded orti-r 'as specified. It will, of unirse, be understood that, if the edges of the plates are riveted or welded together, in lieu of the beadedoyor construction, both plates may be initially stamped the saine size, the extra. width of one of the plates, to allow of the bealiliug over, being unnecessary. The salient features of the invention are the rela tively deep, faceaibutiing flanges. and the beading of said fianges to produce longi tudinal ribs along the edges thereof.

The showing made in the accompanying drawings and hereinbefore described illustrates thc preferred 'constructions employed, although it will be understood that they invention is not limited to these specific details, but is as broadly novel as is commensurate with the appended claims.

`Havingr thus fully described the invention, what `I claim as new, and desire to cure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A; rear axle housing for automobiles comprising a pair of sheet metal halves each pressed to form a dished central portion and semi-cylindrical axle inclosing extensions' projecting laterally therefrom and web portions extending in a Substantially vertical plane both upwardly and downwardly from the margins osaid dished and semi-cylindrical portions, the extended web portions of one of saidhalves being beaded over the ed ofthe web portions of the other of said hy yes tofasten the halves together and t0 form an integral compression truss above the hollow portion of the housing and' an in- 1 thickened and rounded tensile truss the web formed by adjacent flanges o'f the two halves ofthe housing being of varylng ywidth so that the thickened marginal portions of the `trusses are efectiva spaced from the hollow portion `of the housing.

2. An axle housing for lautomobiles oomprising `a` air of sheet metal halves each pressed .to orm aidished central portion and te y be ow the hollow portion of'thehousing(` tinuous upper and lower joints, the beadedl mentary plates ada tending upwardly and downwardly from the ed es of the dished portions of each of the ha ves, the extended fiat web portions of one of said halves being beaded over the edges of the web portions of the other of said halves to secure. the halves together in conover portions being so spaced from the dished portions. of the housing by the varying Width of said flat web portions as to con` stitute upper and lower integral truss members, the beaded over portion above the dished portion of the housing serving to prevent lateral deflection of the web under compression and the beaded over portion below the dished portions of the yhousing serving te prevent tearing ofthe metal under/ tem sion.

3. An automobile axle housing comprising front and rear pressed metal plates of substantially equal thickness, the margins of one of said plates being beaded over the margins of the other of saidV plates in a substantially vertical plane so as to form continuous joints between the plates and so as to constitute integral truss members for the support of the central part of said housing, the folded over portions of one housing half being lapped back upon the outer face of the adjacent portions of the other housing half so that a substantial quantity of metal having three times the thickness of the metal constituting each half of the housing will be spaced from the housing by a web nesses of the metal constituting each half of the housing.

4. A vehicle' axle embodying two compleptedto be vsecured together to form a casing, each of said plates being dish'ed or depressed at substantially its central portion whereby a chamber is formed for housing the differential, and each of said plates being channeled longitudinally to form elongated chambers extending from the differential chamber to house the 'axle shafts, relatively deep webs formed along those portions of the plates laterally adjacent the axle shaft chambers, each of said webs tapering in depth longitudinally toward the differential chamber and toward the end of the axle for shaping the axle into the form of a truss, portions of the plates being laterally extended beyond the di'ere ential chamber and the webs to allow of the fastening of the plates together, and means coperating with said extended portions for securing the plates in complementary relation, with the corresponding Webs of the two platesin face-engaging contactwith one another `throughout substantially their entire extent.

5. A vehicle axle embodying two oomplementary plates adapted to be secured tothe hollow portion of' comprising two thick.

gether to form a casing, each of said plates being dished or depressed at substantially. its central portion whereby a chamber is formed for housing the differential, and each of said lates being channeled longitudinallyto orm elongated chambers extending from the differential chamber to house the axle shafts, formed along those portions of the plates laterally adjacent the axle shaft chambers, for forming the axle into a truss, portions of the plates being extended beyond the webs to allow of,the fastening of the plates together, and means cooperating with said extended portions for 'securing the plates in complementary relation, with the corresponding webs of the twob plates in face-engaging -contact with one another throughout substantially their entire'extent, and additional means for insuring the face-engaging contactbetween each complementary pair of webs.

6. A motor vehicle complementary plates, portions adjacent the longitudinal edges of which are united and which plates are so shaped asy to form a casing for a differential and the axle shaft, each of said plates being thereof with a deep, laterally extending web intermediate the united portions of the plates and those portions thereof which house the axle, and the complementary webs of the plates, on both sides of the dlferential, being inl face-abutting contact throughout substantially their entire extent, and means for securing said webs together whereby a substantially rigid truss member is formed. v

7. A motor vehicle axle embodying two complementary plates united at their longitudinal edges land so shaped as to embody a casing for a diiferential and the axle shaft, each of said plates being provided at both sides thereof with a deep, laterally extending web intermediate the edges of the plates and those portions which webs tapering toward complementary webs of side of the differential, being in face-abutting contact so as to form a substantially rigid truss member, through each complementary pair of webs for maintaining them in contact.

8. A motor vehicle axle embodying two complementary plates united at their longitudinal edges by bending the edge of one 0f house the axle, said their ends and the said plates over the edge of the other plate to form a retaining flange and so shaped as to embed a casing for a differential and the axle sha each of said plates being provided at both sides thereof with a deep, laterally extending web intermediate the edges of the plates and those portions which house the axle, the complentary webs of the plates,

and means passing relatively deep webs axle embodying two provided at both sides the plates, on either on either side of the diferential, being in face-abutting contact for substantially their entire extent soy as. to form a substantially rigid truss member.

5 9. A vehicle axle embodying two `complementary plates adapted to be secured' together to form a casing, each of said plates "being dished or depressed at substantially its central portion whereby a chamber is 1 0 formed for housing the differential, and each ofr said plates being channeled longitudi- 'nally to form `elongated chambers .extending from .the differential chamber to house the axle shafts, relatively deep Webs formed JACOB G. SIMPELAAR.

Witnesses:

CHAs. BOLL, R, S. SMiTH. 

